Rohith wasn't taken to a doctor, his body used as a political tool: Irani in LS

Will retire if any varsity VC accuses me of saffronising education, said Smriti Irani.

New Delhi:

Union Minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday said that she would retire from active politics if any vice-chancellor of a University accuses her of "saffronising education", while debating the Rohith Vemula suicide and JNU issue in the Lok Sabha.

"There still are many VCs appointed by UPA, I challenge that even if one of them says I do saffronisation I will leave politics," said a furious Irani, who hit out at the Opposition for politicising the death of Vemula.

"No attempt was made to take Rohith Vemula to a doctor, his body was used as political tool," Irani added.

An emotional Smriti Irani said she had taken the issue personally and challenged the Opposition to prove that she had meted out justice based on the caste of a student.

"I am taking it personally and I will tell you why, I will tell you how they have used a child, I had called the Chief Minister KCR as soon as the I came to hear the news of Vemula's death. It's his government, I called to ask for assistance to prevent any law and order situation in the state. But my call was turned down, I was told 'sir is busy, he cannot talk now', and I am not making this up, my call is on record," she said.

Irani claimed that she had even spoken to KCR's daughter on the issue and that never received a call back from the Chief Minister.

“Home Minister said that Hafiz Saeed supported JNU protest, shouldn't he have investigated before saying this,” he asked pulling up the JNU row.

Here are the latest updates:

5.30 pm: Accusing the government of giving way to a culture of intolerance in the country, Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia said that the government was following a 'my way or a highway' approach of governance.

Pointing fingers at the BJP government for the death of HCU student Rohith Vemula, Scindia said "On one side this government talks of the ideals of Bhimrao Ambedkar, on the other side they are doing injustice to dalits.”

4.00 pm: Rajya Sabha adjourned till tomorrow.

3.40 pm: Responding to Congress’s onslaught in the Lok Sabha, BJP MP Anurag Thakur asked the Congress party whom they sided with “You have to decide, who are you with. Are you with the murderers or are you with the saviours ” Emphasising again that the event that was conducted in JNU was to protest the judicial killing of Afzal Guru, Thakur took a dig at the Congress saying, "For them, it’s family first, party next, nation last."

3.35: Rajya Sabha adjourned till 3.45 pm.

3.11 pm: Accusing the government of being intolerant, Congress MP in Lok Sabha, Jyotiraditya Scindia, said “On one side this government talks of the ideals of Ambedkar, on the other side they are doing injustice to dalits.” Questioning why the Home Minister did not investigate before linking Hafiz Saeed and the JNU protest, he added "The thinking of this government is...My way or the highway." 2.54 pm: Rajya Sabha adjourned up to 3:30 pm. 2.51 pm: Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha said that "it would be good if government agrees to debate Rohith Vemula issue and JNU issue separately." 2.50 pm: Union Minister Smriti Irani wondered if we are "questioning the judge's capacity to deliver justice based on his caste," as the commotion over the dalit representation in the probe team investigating Vemula’s death grew louder.

Are we signalling to nation that a Judge's capacity to deliver justice will depend on his caste -Smriti Irani in RS pic.twitter.com/xOOaIC5fDF

— Deccan Chronicle (@DeccanChronicle) February 24, 2016

2:33 pm: While JDU chief Sharad Yadav suggested that the discussion on the issues be conducted tomorrow, BSP leader Mayawati said “It would be better if the issues are discussed separately. We felt that issue of dalit scholar Rohit Vemula would be bogged down is it is clubbed together with other issues. We are not prepared to continue the discussion on present terms.”

#NewsAlert: We want #RohithVemula issue & #JNU issue to be discussed separately, only then we will stop our protest: Mayawati in Rajya Sabha

— Deccan Chronicle (@DeccanChronicle) February 24, 2016

2.07 pm: Rajya Sabha adjourned for 15 minutes.

2.05 pm: Requesting the Deputy Chairman to start the debate, Union Minister Arun Jaitley said that the government was willing to respond to the issues raised by BSP in clear terms. "Please listen to our response, and if you are not satisfied, we will discuss the issue," he said as Mayawati raked up the issue of dalit representation in the probe committee on Rohith Vemula's suicide.

#NewsAlert: You must hear Govt's version and your concerns will also be addressed: @arunjaitley in rajya sabha to Mayawati (ANI)

— Deccan Chronicle (@DeccanChronicle) February 24, 2016

2.00 pm: Union Minister for Human Resource Development Smriti Irani lashed out at BSP chief Mayawati and party member’s allegation that there were no Dalit members in the probe team looking into the suicide of dalit scholar Rohit Vemula.

12.38 pm: Rajya Sabha adjourned again till 2.00 pm. prior to which, MA Naqvi of BJP maintained that the government cannot answer splintered questions and requested the Chairman to either convene the Question Hour or take up discussions on the issues.

12:25 pm: The Lok Sbaha agreed to discuss the JNU controversy and suicide of Rohith Vemula at 3 pm later today. Meenakshi Lekhi of BJP also delivered the 'Thanks motion' for President's address on the joint session of the Parliament.

12.16 pm: Claiming that the government was scared of him, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, speaking to media persons outside parliament, said, “You watch, when I speak, they will not let me speak. Because they are scared of what I will say.”

12.12 pm: Vice President Hamid Ansari adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

12.00 am: Rajya Sabha adjourned until 12.12 pm following uproar over Rohith Vemula’s suicide.

11.30 am: Replying to the issues raised by BSP supremo Mayawati, BJP leader MA Naqvi said, "We will not respond to things in bits and pieces, there will be a proper discussion".

11.10 am: BSP supremo Mayawati raised the suicide of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula in Rajya Sabha, attacking the RSS and the BJP government. She refused to stop speaking, despite deputy chairman PJ Kurien asking her to end her statement, following which the Rajya Sabha was adjourned briefly after BSP members created ruckus.

11.00 am: Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge submitted an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha on the JNU stand-off and the suicide case of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula.

Rohith, 26, was found hanging on January 17, days after he was banned from the hostel and other areas on campus.

In the Lok Sabha, motion of thanks on the President's address will be moved and the Election Laws amendment bill is also scheduled to be introduced in the lower house.

In Rajya Sabha, the National Waterways Bill, the Carriage by Air (Amendment) Bill, the Bureau of Indian Standards Bill is scheduled to come up for discussion and passage today.

The government has agreed to discuss all the issues as it wants to avoid a repeat of the Monsoon and Winter Sessions, where little work got done.

The government has a heavy legislative agenda to push through in this session including the passage of GST Bill.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier said that he was hopeful of a 'fruitful' Budget Session and added that the government's 'limitations' must also be discussed in the Parliament as it was the only way to strengthen the democracy.